HomeTown Spotlight | September: Haddonfield Public Schools
HOMETOWN SPOTLIGHT | SEPTEMBER 2024 School: Haddonfield Public Schools Athletic Director: Lefteris Banos HomeTown is excited to announce September spotlight, Lefteris Banos and Haddonfield Public Schools. ABOUT LEFTERIS Lefteris Banos, MA, CAA, has been an educator for 29 years. Seven of those years as a Health and Physical teacher and coach, and 22 years as an Athletic Director. Growing up in Athens, Greece, Lefteris moved to the US when he was 19 to attend West Chester University in Pennsylvania. He knew he always wanted to be involved in athletics and is excited to start his 30th year in this field. How does Haddonfield School District use HomeTown and what is your favorite feature? Haddonfield Athletics uses HomeTown for their athletic department’s digital tickets for playoff games. With the ability to organize and control ticket sales without having to sell tickets in person, Lefteris was in London one year and was able to log on a computer to schedule ticket sales. The event went on without a hitch. HomeTown has made his job so easy along with providing top-notch customer service with quick response and always someone to talk to if any help is needed. “My favorite part about HomeTown is the ability to organize and control ticket sales without having to sell tickets in person. I was in London one year on a trip and I was able to log on a computer and schedule ticket sales. The event went on without a hitch. HomeTown made my job so easy. The customer service is also top-notch. Quick responses and always someone to talk to if any help is needed.” – Lefteris Banos, Athletic Director What do you think has made you successful throughout your career and what is something you hope to leave behind in your career and community? Lefteris sees success in all the friendships he has developed during his career as it’s the most rewarding aspect of his job. He hopes his students will go on and achieve great things, looking back at their high school as a place where they developed many skills needed to succeed in life.
Feature Spotlight: Automated Emailed Reports
Tired of having to always dig for your reports after events and payouts? HomeTown is excited to introduce our newly released feature for Automated Emailed Reports. Designed to streamline your workflow and enhance transparency, this feature ensures that you have all the necessary insights at your fingertips without any extra effort. Here’s how our Automated Emailed Reports can revolutionize your event management experience: Automated Delivery Say goodbye to the hassle of manual report generation. Our system ensures timely delivery of event audits and payout reports straight to users’ inboxes. By automating the process, you can be confident that critical financial information is always delivered on time, freeing you from the manual effort and ensuring your team stays informed effortlessly. Effortless Insights Stay informed without lifting a finger. Our automated email reports provide crucial insights directly to your inbox, keeping you and your users in the loop. This seamless delivery system saves everyone valuable time, allowing you to focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional events and experiences for student athletes. With HomeTown Ticketing, staying updated has never been this easy. Improved Transparency Empower your users with automated access to detailed reports, fostering trust and understanding of your financial picture. By providing clear and comprehensive reports automatically, you enhance transparency and build stronger relationships with your stakeholders. This level of insight not only helps in making informed decisions but also promotes a culture of openness and reliability. Experience the future of event management with HomeTown’s Automated Emailed Reports – where efficiency meets transparency.
Season Passes & Tickets With HomeTown
Updated August 2024 Unlock the Full Potential of Your Sports Season with Season Passes and Tickets Want to make it fast and easy for your most loyal fans to get into every game? HomeTown has the built-in option to sell season passes and season ticket packages to your events. Which one is right for your programs? Season passes and tickets offer numerous benefits for both fans and sports programs, creating a seamless experience and generating revenue. Season Passes: Passes provide an easy way for fans to purchase entry to multiple events at one time, while providing you with flexible options. When fans purchase their season pass, they will receive one QR code that can be scanned for entry. The QR code will be valid for one entry to each event within the season and can be stored on a mobile device, printed at home, or stored and accessed via the Fan App. The app will be the best and easiest way to manage their passes and tickets. Types of Season Passes: Single Sport Season Pass: Ideal for fans who follow a particular sport, offering access to all home games for that sport. Multi-Sport Season Pass: Perfect for fans who enjoy a variety of sports, providing entry to games across multiple sports or seasons. Flex Passes: This pass operates like a stamp card, giving fans and attendees the flexibility to attend a specific number of games across various sports or events. Season Tickets: Season ticket packages allow your fans to purchase entry to each game of an athletic season for one price. Season tickets can be sent digitally, with individual tickets for each game that are easily scanned upon entry to ensure each ticket is valid for the correct date. Season tickets are best for fans who want reserved seating, ensuring they can enjoy the game from their preferred spot for every home event. This is particularly popular in high-demand sports where specific seating is crucial. Related post: Set Up Your School for a Sell-Out Crowd with Digital Ticketing Convenient Purchasing and Renewals: HomeTown’s platform allows schools to create and sell season tickets and passes online, through the app, and at door or gate during point of sale. Once the season is over fans can get notifications and renew their passes or tickets before they are available to the public, ensuring they never miss a game and can reserve their preferred seats. Benefits of Offering Season Passes and Tickets: Guaranteed Revenue: Pre-sold passes and tickets ensure revenue before the season starts. Enhanced Fan Loyalty: By offering reserved seating, cost effective tickets and passes, and early renewals, schools and athletic departments can build stronger relationships with their fanbase. Streamlined Entry: Digital passes and tickets reduce the hassle of game-day entry, allowing fans to access events with ease. By offering a range of season passes and ticketing options, schools and athletic departments can cater to diverse fan preferences while optimizing their event management and revenue streams. Which one is right for you to offer your fans? Choosing between a season pass and season tickets depends on your priorities. If you enjoy the flexibility of attending various sports that fits your schedule, a season pass—especially a multi-sport or flex pass—might be the best option. On the other hand, if securing a specific seat for every game is your top priority or providing the experience of having individual tickets per event, then season tickets with reserved seating are the way to go. Schedule a call with someone on our sales team, or connect with your dedicated Client Success representative to learn more about season tickets and passes.
HomeTown Spotlight | August: Conroe Independent School District
HOMETOWN SPOTLIGHT | AUGUST 2024 School: Conroe Independent School District Athletic Director: Chris Feris HomeTown is excited to announce August’s spotlight, Chris Feris and Conroe Independent School District. ABOUT CHRIS Chris Feris has spent his entire 30+ year career in the education and athletics field. Over his tenure, Chris had the privilege to play baseball at Rice University and continue to be on the coaching staff. Chris was given the opportunity to take on the responsibilities of an associate director for Plano ISD and then nine years as an athletic director at Birdville ISD. He’s now in his third year as an athletic director at Conroe ISD and continues to deliver for his students and staff. What is his inspiration Chris, like many other ADs, is extremely passionate about his role as an athletic director. His father was also an athletic director and that helped surround and inspire him to pursue the same field and give back to the community that has given him so much. Chris enjoys the day to day operations that athletic directors oversee and really enjoys giving back to the students. As Chris says, “Being able to support coaches and students and enabling them to have the best possible experiences and to give back all the memorable experiences and life lessons I was a part of within athletics”. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT HOMETOWN? Chris has been an early user of HomeTown since 2017 and has appreciated how HomeTown has grown and adapted to his needs! He loves how easy and simple it is to get set up and running with HomeTown. “It’s not like the old days where we had to get roll tickets…HomeTown takes care of the ticketing and the admin and staff have their own access to quickly make changes. We can have a playoff game and get things ready in just a couple of minutes for people to be able to buy their tickets.” – Chris Feris, Athletic Director Additionally the support that he received has been a crucial part of his success, “The support and willingness to continue to work with us to see how we need things or how things could work better for us. Recently the end of the year meeting y’all came and saw us to talk about ins and outs of the year. Moving forward from there a pre-season meeting before preseason tickets went on sale. The follow up and support is key”. – Chris Feris, Athletic Director Chris’s take on being successful When asked about his career and what made him successful Chris emphasized working with the right people. He stated that they’ve always shared the same ideals. “The people I’ve worked with are what have made me successful. They need to have fun and enjoy what they do and make the best out of any situation they’re given. Looking back at the people who were mentors or worked with or student athletes and the joys of making memories is what is important.” – Chris Feris, Athletic Director
The Client Experience Department
Summer Internship Program 2024 As summer heats up, so does the excitement within our HomeTown team. This summer, we’re thrilled to have a group of dynamic, talented, and eager individuals who have joined us as summer interns. Each intern, with their unique skills and fresh perspectives, is making a meaningful impact across various departments. From Marketing to Engineering, and from Finance to Client Experience, these young professionals are not only gaining invaluable experience but also contributing significantly to our projects and goals. Introducing… Avery Benedetto! Communications with a minor in Marketing major at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I was looking for a summer job that would help me gain experience for my future career! Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? My favorite part is the people! When I found out my internship was all remote, I was worried about being bored because of a lack of interaction with others, but I get to talk and interact with people all day every day! Q: What is your dream jobStay at home mom! Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?I played softball in high school Q: What is your favorite sports team? Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?”Do not give with the intent to receive” Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? ANYTHING Taylor Swift Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Movie- A League of Their Own, Show- Friends, Book- The Light We Lost Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?hanging out with friends and all things Chi Omega! (My sorority) Introducing… Adam Rini! Communications major at The Ohio State University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I wanted to gain more communication and customer service experience before attending graduate school in the fall. The responsibilities and duties appeared fitting for my career aspirations, and I am always looking to make new connections and possibly stumble upon new opportunities. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? I have learned how to maneuver the platforms and technological assets of HomeTown, and I have made sure to pay attention to how each CSM interacts and assist their clients. My favorite aspects of HomeTown have to be the atmosphere and people I have met. Everyone is super friendly and easy to talk to, so I have felt very comfortable within the work environment. The food and fun activities are also major perks. Q: What is your dream jobSport Commentator Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?Basketball/Track & Field Q: What is your favorite sports team? Cleveland Cavaliers Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?Treat everyone as equals! Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? After Hours – Charlieonafriday Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Inglorious Basterds (any Tarantino movie for that matter) Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?Hanging with the homies. Introducing… Garrett Gross! Business Management major at Wittenberg University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I wanted to intern at HomeTown because it offered a chance to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting and to expand my knowledge and learn more about the customer service aspect of a business. Additionally, I have a passion for sports, and interning at HomeTown would allow me to stay connected. I saw potential in this internship to help myself grow professionally as well as provide a great opportunity to collaborate with others. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? My favorite part about interning at HomeTown is the team-oriented environment. Everyone is extremely helpful and focused on accomplishing goals while also striving to better themselves and the team. I am inspired about their emphasis on building strong relationships with clients. Q: What is your dream jobTo own a golf course. Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?I did football, wrestling, and track in high school. In college I was a member on the football team as well as a team captain my senior year. Q: What is your favorite sports team? Cincinnati Bengals Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Movie: The 5th Quarter TV Show: N/A Book: Behind Enemy Lines Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?Favorite hobbies are golfing, playing pickleball, and hanging out with my friends. Introducing… Nick Solace! Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technologies major at Miami University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?College credit, to gain experience in the work force, and make invaluable connections. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? How to navigate all of our platforms and how to interact with our client base. My favorite part so far is hanging out with everyone in the Dublin office. Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?I played football and lacrosse in high school Q: What is your favorite sports team? Bengals, Reds, and CBJ Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? I want it that way – The Backstreet Boys Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?The Princess Bride Introducing… Kaiya Elsea! Health Service Administration major at Ohio University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I was looking for an opportunity to explore different career paths and I knew that HomeTown was a company that consisted of multiple different departments that I would be able to learn from. The high school I graduated from has been working with HomeTown for a few years now and I admired all the work they did for our local schools and thought it would be neat to be a part of
The Engineering Department
Summer Internship Program 2024 As summer heats up, so does the excitement within our HomeTown team. This summer, we’re thrilled to have a group of dynamic, talented, and eager individuals who have joined us as summer interns. Each intern, with their unique skills and fresh perspectives, is making a meaningful impact across various departments. From Marketing to Engineering, and from Finance to Client Experience, these young professionals are not only gaining invaluable experience but also contributing significantly to our projects and goals. Introducing… Thomas Peterson! Computer Science major at Purdue University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I wanted to intern at HomeTown so that I could apply what I’ve learned to a professional environment. While interning at Hometown last summer, I learned a lot from the team in a short amount of time, so I was glad to come back this summer. It’s cool to be able to contribute to a product that I used when I was in high school. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? This summer, I was able to learn a lot more about the infrastructure of HomeTown and it’s products. I feel like I’ve been able to contribute in a more meaningful way. Q: What is your dream jobSoftware Engineer Q: What is your favorite sports team? Boston Red Sox Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?Playing the bass guitar Introducing… Vignesh Lakshmanan! Networked and Social Systems Engineering major at University of Pennsylvania. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?HomeTown, at its core is built off a great business idea, and I could see the high quality of engineering present while exploring the product pages. I knew there would be so much to learn from other developers while also contributing to a company’s mission I could truly get behind. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? My favorite part of the internship has been having the opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects while increasing my knowledge across different domains of software engineering. Q: What is your dream jobSoftware Engineer Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?Tennis in high school Q: What is your favorite sports team? LA Lakers Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Movie:Inception, TV Show: Succession, and Book:The Cold Start Problem Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?I enjoy doing bodyweight training and going on runs.
The Marketing Department
Summer Internship Program 2024 As summer heats up, so does the excitement within our HomeTown team. This summer, we’re thrilled to have a group of dynamic, talented, and eager individuals who have joined us as summer interns. Each intern, with their unique skills and fresh perspectives, is making a meaningful impact across various departments. From Marketing to Engineering, and from Finance to Client Experience, these young professionals are not only gaining invaluable experience but also contributing significantly to our projects and goals. Introducing… Ben Sommer! Econ Philosophy major at Columbia University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?To gain experience with working with other people and learn more about Hometown Ticketing and marketing as a whole. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? My favorite part of the internship has been getting to meet all the amazing people working here and getting the opportunity to work with them. Q: What is your dream jobPro basketball player. Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?I rowed in both high school and college. Q: What is your favorite sports team? Cleveland Cavaliers. Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?That’s the pot calling the kettle black. Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? I Did It My Way – Frank Sinatra Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Rush, Breaking Bad, and a Dog’s Life Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?I Llove playing basketball and eating good food Introducing… Yasmin Chakhman! Marketing and Sales major at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?I wanted to intern at Hometown to explore the dynamic field of marketing and apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting. This internship offered an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience, learn from seasoned professionals, and contribute to impactful projects. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? So far, I’ve learned a lot about developing and executing marketing strategies. I’ve gained hands-on experience with social media management, content creation, and demand generation. One of my favorite parts of the internship is collaborating with the team to brainstorm creative campaigns and seeing them come to life. It’s been exciting to see how our efforts can directly impact the company’s growth and engagement with its audience! Q: What is your dream jobCEO Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?I played Volleyball all 4 years of High School and I was a DS (defensive specialist) Q: What is your favorite sports team? New York Yankees Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?”Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? My Way – Frank Sinatra Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Movie: Interstellar or Miracle (the hockey movie), TV Show: Modern Family, Book: The Silent Patient Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?I love reading and photography in my free time and I have a collection of cameras!
The Finance Department
Summer Internship Program 2024 As summer heats up, so does the excitement within our HomeTown team. This summer, we’re thrilled to have a group of dynamic, talented, and eager individuals who have joined us as summer interns. Each intern, with their unique skills and fresh perspectives, is making a meaningful impact across various departments. From Marketing to Engineering, and from Finance to Client Experience, these young professionals are not only gaining invaluable experience but also contributing significantly to our projects and goals. Introducing… Tristan Fahs! Finance major at Ohio State University. Q: Why did you want to intern at HomeTown?To gain work experience and learn as much as possible. Q: What have you learned so far? Or what’s your favorite part of the internship? I have learned the importance of detail in financial situations. My favorite part of the internship is the amazing people I get to work with. Q: What is your dream jobFinancial Advisor Q: Did you play sports in high school or college?Hockey Q: What is your favorite sports team? Ohio State Buckeyes Q: Do you have a favorite quote or motto that you live by?Take the risk or loose the chance Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song? Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar Q: What is your favorite movie, tv show and book?Road House, Breaking Bad, and For Whom the Bell Tolls Q: What is your favorite hobby or activity you enjoy doing in your free time?Reading
Preparing for Fall: Digital Tickets Made Easy For Fans
As the new school year approaches and you’re gearing up for the many busy activities during the fall, ensuring smooth event experiences for fans is critical. With HomeTown we give your fans many convenient options that help with the overall event experience. Event Discovery Finding and promoting school events shouldn’t be a challenge. With our user-friendly fan app, fans and spectators can find events and purchase tickets without having to remember any passwords; it’s all with multi-factor authentication making it fast and easy. They can also go to events.hometown.com where they can search and discover games and events happening in the community and purchase tickets from there. There is no login required to purchase tickets through this site to help make it as smooth as possible. Convenient Payment Options Purchasing tickets should be a breeze. Our platform supports a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and the newly introduced ability to pay via Cash App. With seamless payment options, purchasing tickets for school events is quick and hassle-free, ensuring that everyone can participate in the school community with ease. Ease of Accessing Tickets Once tickets are purchased, event goers get their tickets emailed to them, can print out their tickets, store tickets in Google Wallet, Apple Wallet, or get them immediately upon purchase as they are approaching the entrance to the event. With just a few clicks, tickets are securely stored and readily accessible, ensuring a stress-free entry experience for all attendees. Easy Check Ins Once tickets are secured, entering school events should be a seamless process. We have multiple options to make sure that your school is covered and enabled for smooth gate operations. Schools can set up their operations for your typical scanning methods through the app. Additionally, the option for event goers to utilize self check-in can also be toggled on to help streamline operations. If spotty connection is also a problem we have offline scanning capabilities that allows schools to download their attendee list and scan in event goers without internet connectivity. What’s better is if you’re scanning while connected but suddenly your connection drops, offline scanning can be configured to automatically kick in so there won’t be a disruption in operations and refresh once you connect to the internet again. Say goodbye to long lines and cumbersome check-in procedures.
Feature Spotlight: Offline Scanning
Get ready to elevate your event check-in experience for your fans! Hometown is excited to spotlight our Offline Scanning capabilities that helps enable our clients and provide 360 coverage when it comes to scanning in for events. You no longer need to be at the mercy of spotty connectivity or rolling blackouts. Offline scanning is offered as a solution for schools that kicks in if connection is lost ensuring a continued smooth check in, or can be set up as a primary method for checking in fans and spectators. Schools now have the options to provide guests traditional scanning, self check-in, and offline scanning to adapt to any schools’ scanning requirements and gate operations. Efficiency Attendees can be checked in quickly, enhancing overall event efficiency and attendee satisfaction. This is especially crucial during peak check-in times or high-traffic events where there may be network congestion. Say goodbye to long queues and sluggish check-ins. Improved Reliability Offline Scanning eliminates the dependency on network access, reducing the risk of delays or disruptions, and ensuring a smooth check-in experience regardless of external factors. No more worries about internet connectivity issues disrupting your event. Trust in Hometown for a reliable event solution, rain or shine. Enhanced Accessibility This is particularly beneficial in venues with limited connectivity. From stadiums to remote venues, access is no longer limited by internet connectivity. Our Offline Scanning feature ensures that every attendee can be checked in, regardless of location. Flexibility Offline scanning provides flexibility for event organizers to operate in diverse environments, including remote locations or areas with limited network connectivity. Whether it’s a bustling city stadium or a remote countryside field, Hometown has you covered.
